There is only one Jaguar series I XJC prototype.
It was Sir William Lyons last designed car which he built
at the Browns Lane factory in 1969.
The car was known as XJ33/34. The reason it had two
numbers was because it was tried with both the 4.2 and
V12 motor. The basis for this prototype was a Swedish
2.8 RHD XJ6 bodyshell. The Body Development Shop
worked this into the coupe version. In late 1976 the
prototype was set to be destroyed, this was in line with
Jaguar prototype tradition but some how it escaped destruction.
At the time of despatch it had a 4.2 XK engine on board
and manual transmission.
It was originally painted Regency red with a beige interior.
This series 1 prototype does differ from the eventual coupe
born out of the series II. The doors on the prototype are
shorter, the roofline is a bit flatter and the rear of the car is
narrower. Many different trim bits were tried and tested,
leaving quite a few holes here and there.
After being sold to a wrecker in Tipton England in 1977,
the car changed hands a few times before it was bought
unseen by an Australian buyer. One of the previous owners
had painted the car British Racing Green and changed the
carpets to black. In Australia the car has undergone a
major restoration back to its original colour scheme of
BRG/beige.
The car is owned by Les Hughes, all round nice guy and
editor of the excellent ’ Australian Jaguar Magazine. ’
Kind Regards
Tony Williams
Sydney, Australia
1985 XJ6